Enrich your library collection with outstanding informational books that children really want to read. This annotated resource by veteran children’s book reviewer Isaacs surveys the best nonfiction/informational titles for ages 3 through 10, helping librarians make informed collection development and purchasing decisions. With information on 250 books, this volume

Features an introductory chapter which takes a close look at what makes a successful informational picture book

Provides thoughtful descriptions for each title, including complete bibliographic information, age-level guidance, and notes on book awards won

Works as curriculum support as well as a tool for elementary RA, with easy-to-use topical organization and a separate subject index

Picturing the World is an invaluable aid to librarians and educators in their ongoing search for high quality informational children’s books.

Table of Contents

Author’s Note

Chapter 1:What Are Informational Picture Books?

What Is an Informational Book?

What Is a Picture Book?

Chapter 2:Choosing Good Informational Picture Books

Subject and Child Appeal

How the Story Is Told

How the Story Is Pictured

Accuracy, Sources, and Additional Tools

Awards and Best-of-the-Year Lists

The Books in This List

Chapter 3:Ourselves and Our World at Home and School

Families

School

Pets

Our Bodies

Our Health

Chapter 4:The Natural World around Us

Looking at Nature

Environments and Ecosystems

Plants

Animals

Fish

Amphibians and Reptiles

Birds

Mammals Other Than Humans

Insects and Spiders

Other Invertebrates

Extinct Animals

How the Earth Works

Stars and the Universe

Mathematics

Chapter 5:The World We Make

Food and Farming

Construction, Equipment, and Things That Go

Inventors and Inventions

Flight and Space Travel

Chapter 6:The Things We Do

Writers

Art and Artists

Music and Musicians

Theater and Performers: Actors, Dancers, and Entertainers

Sports and Athletes

Chapter 7:The World of Faith and Festivals

Chapter 8:Our World in History

Places through Time

Events

People

Chapter 9: Our World Today

Around the World

People

Appendix: A List of Awards and Best-of-the-Year Book Lists Mentioned in the AnnotationsTitle IndexAuthor and Illustrator Index

Subject Index

About the Author

Kathleen T. Isaacs spent many years as a teacher, with intermittent stints as a school and public librarian. She has taught in schools and universities in Baltimore, Washington, Hong Kong, and Xi’an, China, and has traveled extensively in many parts of the world. She has chaired selection committees for ALSC’s Sibert Award, ALSC’s Notable Children’s Books, and USBBY’s Outstanding International Book Committees, and twice served as a member of ALSC’s Newbery Award committee. Most recently, she has been teaching children’s literature in the education program at Towson University in Maryland. She regularly contributes articles and reviews to professional publications.

Reviews

"Isaacs draws on her considerable experience as a teacher and librarian to produce this useful tool ... Considering the emphasis on nonfiction in the new Common Core Standards, elementary librarians wishing to flesh out their collections will find this a valuable resource."
--School Library Journal

Providing descriptive annotations of the best children's picture books published in the last decade, this comprehensive overview is perfect for librarians, teachers, parents, daycare providers, and anyone who works with young children.